Automatic fluid timer device for fluid and mechanical systems

ABSTRACT

A combination hydraulic and mechanical means, the purpose of which is to provide an adjustable automatic cyclic opening of a fluid system line and, after a pre-determined flow period, shut the system off. In the mechanism a diaphragm-actuated shaft causes a valve to be raised or lowered off or on its seat and, concurrently, the flow direction control valve to open and close appropriate ports. Inlet water to the flow direction control valve is filtered, softened for removal of mineral solvents, and metered at the rate of drops per second, drops per minute to drops per hour depending on the timing intervals required by the specific item. Alternately, as the direction control unit shifts position, the under or upper side of the diaphragm through actuation of a metering valve is slowly filled with fluid as the opposite side is correspondingly unloaded. Accurate setting of hours to go before water goes on is obtained by opening a pre-set bypass valve which floods the lower chamber thereby elevating the diaphragm and thus the time indicator. Whereupon, after set time is reached, bypass valve is closed.

United States Patent [191 Buckman Apr. 30, 1974 AUTOMATIC FLUID TIMER DEVICE FOR FLUID AND MECHANICAL SYSTEMS [75] Inventor: T. P. Buckman, Tujunga, Calif.

[73] Assignee: TRT,- Inc., Los Angeles, Calif.

[22] Filed: Dec. 7, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 312,885

Primary Examiner-Alan Cohan Attorney, Agent, or FirmWitherspoon and Lane [57] ABSTRACT A combination hydraulic and mechanical means, the purpose of which is to provide an adjustable automatic cyclic opening of a fluid system line and, after a predetermined flow period, shut the system off. In the mechanism a diaphragm-actuated shaft causes a valve to be raised or lowered off or on its seat and, concurrently, the flow direction control valve to open and close appropriate ports. Inlet water to the flow direction control valve is filtered, softened for removal of mineral solvents, and metered at the rate of drops per second, drops per minute to drops per hour depending on the timing intervals required by the specific item. Alternately, as the direction control unit shifts position, the under or upper side of the diaphragm through actuation of a metering valve is slowly filled with fluid as the opposite side is correspondingly unloaded. Accurate setting of hours to go before water goes on is obtained by opening a pre-set bypass valve which floods the lower chamber thereby elevating the diaphragm and thus the time indicator. Whereupon, after set time is reached, bypass valve is closed.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED PR m A 3L807L452 SHEET 1 BF 4 FIG].

4 INLET PORT m mmmsumu 7 $801,452

mm 2 UP 4 PATENIEflmao mm ME! 3 [1F 4 FIG 4 DIRECTION (PANEL) HOURS- TO GO BEFORE CYCLE WATER GOES ON WA TER OFF CYCLE 47 HOURS STA RT l V AUTOMATIC FLUID TIMER DEVICE FOR FLUID AND MECHANICAL SYSTEMS SUMMARY or THE INVENTION This invention primarily relates toa device used with lawn sprinkler systems or irrigation systems to automatically turn the water system on at prescribedintervals for a predetermined length of time.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a timing device for controlling fluid flow by automatically turning the water system on at specific intervals for a predetermined length of time.

It is another object, after a prolonged off period, to turn sprinkler water on rapidly and, after a prolonged on period, turn the water off rapidly.

It is another object of this invention to provide a timer as in the above object which is simple in operation, susceptible of mass production, and trouble free in operation.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an automatic timing device for controlling fluid flow which includes means sensitive to atmospheric conditions to inactivate the device in rainy and damp weather when watering is not needed.

It is another objectof this invention to provide an automatic timer for fluid flow control which is readily installed in conventional plumbing systems.

It is a further object. of this invention to provide means by-passing the timing device for controlling fluid flow automatically to rapidly cause the fluid flow to start or stop as desired.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS F IG. 1 is a schematic representation of the'timer device as it would be employed in a lawn sprinkler system;

F IG. 2 is a schematic representation illustrating an additional use of the timer deviceas it might be included in a system for cyclically actuating an electric switch;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view-taken along line 33 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the timer device illustrating a-portion of the timer setting details; I

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross sectional c'r'osssectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a partial elevational view illustrating details of the hours to go setting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 5, the fluid timer 10 comprises a lower housing 12 and an upper housing 14 having a central bore 16 extending throughout the length of housing. The lower end of the lower bodyis formed into an annular "flange 18 which is externally threaded for engagement with threaded opening 20 in valve body 22. The valve body 22 is provided with an inlet 24 surrounded by a seat 26-and a lateral outlet 28. 1

A stem assembly 30 comprising a lower stem 32 and an upper stem 34 is reciproc-ably carried in central bore 16. A piston 36 secured to the lower end of lower stem 32 by means of cap screw 38 slides up and down in lower housing piston chamber 40. A seal retainer 42 is threadedly mounted on piston 36 and carries at its lower extremity a seal 44 held to 'theretainer by cap 2 screw 46. The seal 44 engages valve seat 26 to close off the inlet 24.

The lower and upper stems 32 and 34 have a central throughbore 50, said bore extending down through cap screw 38 and cap screw 46 into communication with valve inlet 24. The lower stem 32 has a lateral passage 52 extending from bore 50 into chamber 40 above the head of piston 36. Chamber 60 directly above and in communication with piston chamber 40 is provided with an annular coarse filter 62 fitting around lower stem 32 and a water softener 64 around the coarse filter 62. A dish-like fine filter 66 rests on the upper face of the water softener while a fine screen 68 is placed on top of the fine filter 66. The fine screen 68 is in communication with chamber 70. The two filters, water softener and fine screen are held in position in chamber 60 by means of threaded retainer 72.

Stem bore 50 which is in communication with valve inlet 24 is also in liquid communication with cap chamber in cap 82 threadedly carried in the upper portion of the upper housing 14. The upper end of upper stem 34-is provided with a piston 84 slidably carried in chamber 80. This piston 84 is provided with an O-ring seal 86 which engages the wall of the chamber 80. Water proceeds from the valve inlet 24 up through bore 50 into chamber 80 to provide a pressure balancing'feature so that the stem assembly 30 floats within the bore portions 16a and 16b.

Referring to FIG. 5, a passage 76 leads from chamber 70 to pressure regulator 90 which regulator comprises a seat 92 housing a poppet valve 94 spring biased toward closed position by helical spring 96. The poppet valve 94 is provided with seals 98 which engage the seat wall. Helical spring 100 held in compressed condition by retainer 102 engages valve disc 104 which rests on diaphragm 106 to retain the diaphragm in contact with the poppet valve 94. A passage 110 connects the regulator 90 with inlet valve 111 which valve includes a seat 112 and cooperating valve 114 held in spaced relation by helical spring 116. The entire valve 11 1 is housed in inlet valve chamber 118.

The inlet valve 111 is controlled by a moisture responsive unit which engages shaft 122 extending is adjustable with respect to the support and carries a lever 131 at its lower end which is in turn connected to the valve shaft 122. The support 124 is held in position in the upper housing by means of a retainer to which is affixed a hood 132 such that the moisture sensitive element 126 abuts against the hood 132 so that expansion and contraction of said element will reciprocate screw 128 and by lever 131 connected to valve shaft 122 thereby control inlet valve 114.

A passage 134 connects inlet valve chamber 1 18 with a-port 136 leading into spool chamber 138 which is actually an enlargement of the upper housing bore. The spool chamber wall 140 is provided with protruding means 142 which cooperate with the O-ring seals 144 on spool 148, slidably carried on upper stem 34, to formannular channels adapted to cooperate with adjacent ports in the upper housing as the spool 148 moves up and down.

Referring to FIG. 3, a conduit 150 connects the upper portion of the spool chamber 138 with needle valve assembly 160. This needle valve assembly comprises a needle valve 162 in engagement with apertured seat 164. Spring means 166 are provided between the needle valve 162 and seat 164 to create a force tending to open the valve so that flow may proceed through the seat into chamber 170.

A passageway 172 extends from the chamber 170 to diaphragm chamber 174 which is an annular chamber surrounding the upper portion of the lower stem 32. A diaphragm 178 divides the diaphragm chamer 174 into a lower chamber 180 and an upper chamber 182. In order to slidably support the diaphragm around the lower stem 32, a bushing 184 is slidably mounted on the lower stem 32. The shouldered lower diaphragm retainer 186 is carried by the bushing 184 and engages the lower face of the diaphragm and an upper diaphragm retainer 188 is'threadedly secured to the bushing 184 and engages the upper surface of the diaphragm. The diaphragm 178 is thus firmly held between retainers 186 and 188. A hydraulic check valve assembly 190 is provided for and in communication with lower chamber 180 by way of passages 172, 194 and 196 leading into a chamber 198 formed in retaining plug 200. Check valve 202 is biased down against seal 204 to close off passage of liquid by means of helical spring 206. The upper end of the check valve assembly 190 is connected to passage 208 which is in turn in communication with conduit 150.

A hydraulic check valve assembly 220 is connected directly to the upper diaphragm chamber 182 by a hole 222 in retaining plug 224. Check valve 226 is biased down against seal 228 by means of helical spring 230 to close off passage of liquid through hole 222. When the check valve 226 opens liquid flows out through passage 232 into passage 234 and then into spool port 236 which port is in communication with lower spool chamber 240 from which liquid flows upwardly through the channel 242 defined by the outer face of the upper stem 32 and the inner face of the spool 148. Channel 242 feeds the liquid into catch chamber 244 from which liquid proceeds through conduit 246 (FIG. to be discharged through discharge valve assembly 248. The discharge valve assembly 248 includes an adjustable valve member 250 for controlling rate of discharge.

The lower diaphragm chamber 180 is provided with a relief valve assembly 260 comprising a helical spring 262 biasing valve 264 upwardly against seal 266 held in position by seal holder 268 which is in turn held in position in the lower housing 12 by means of retainer 270 threadedly carried in said housing. A cylindrical actuator 272 carried by lower diaphragm retainer 186 is adapted to engage the annular trip 274 carried on the upper end portion of the valve 264 to depress same against spring 262 and allow liquid to flow from the lower diaphragm chamber 180 through the valve and conduit 276 to drainage.

The upper diaphragm chamber 182 is provided with a relief valve assembly 280 (FIG. 5) comprising a helical spring 282 biasing valve 284 downwardly against seal 286 held in position by seal holder 288 which is in turn held in place in the upper housing 14 by means of retainer 290 threadedly carried in said housing. A cylindrical actuator 292 carried by upper diaphragm retainer 188 is adapted to engage annular trip 294 carried on the lower end of valve 284 to raise same against spring 282 to provide communication between upper diaphragm chamber 182 and drainage by way of conduit 296. Upon continued upward movement by actuator 292, the spring-like actuator extension 293 engages cam surface 289 on seal holder 288 to cause an expansion of actuator 292 to thereby free annular trip 294 so that the valve 284 will be released and returned to its seated position on seal 286 under the action of spring 282.

Referring to the left side of FIG. 5, a by-pass valve assembly 300 is provided for furnishing liquid to the lower diaphragm chamber more or less directly from the main inlet 24. Said valve assembly comprises a valve 302 held down against valve seat 304 by means of helical spring 306 abutting washer 308 bearing on seal 310. A rod 312 connects with the upper end valve 302 and has a central bore 314 aligned with the central bore 316 in valve 302. A port 318 connects-the rod bore 314 with the outside of the rod 317 and leads into by-pass valve chamber 320. A pipe 322 extends centrally up through the valve bore 316 and into the rod bore 314, said pipe being slightly smaller in diameter than the valve bore 316 to form an annular passage 324 between the outer surface of the pipe 322 and the sur: face of the valve bore 316. The by-pass valve 302 is provided with a lateral port 326 near its upper end for communication between the valve bore 316 and bypass valve chamber 320. It should be noted that the annular passage 324 connects the lower diaphragm chamher 180 with the by-pass valve chamber 320 by way of valve port 326.

The by-pass valve seat 304 is retained in position in the upper housing by seal holder 330 having a cam portion 331 and is in turn held in place by threaded retainer 332 threadedly mounted in the upper housing. The by-pass valve assembly also includes a cylindrical actuator 334 threadedly carried in the upper diaphragm retainer 188. This actuator engages the by-pass valve trip 336 in the valve 302 to move the valve off its seat 304 as the diaphragm 178 moves upwardly. The pipe 322 is held in position by means of seal 338 abutting the bottom of the lower diaphragm retainer 186. The lower open end of pipe 322 is connected to passage 340 in communication with chamber 70.

The upper end of rod 312 is provided with an annular recess 342 which receives the end of lever 344. This lever 344 is also connected to plunger 346 and pivots lever 344 about point 350 as the plunger 346 is vertically reciprocated by manual actuation of button 352 affixed to the top of plunger 346. This plunger is slidably positioned in the upper housing 14 by means of guide bushing 354.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is also a by-pass valve assembly 360 which connects with the inlet 24 to feed liquid into the upper diaphragm chamber 182, said bypass valve assembly 360 comprising a helical spring 362 biasing valve 364 aginst seal assembly 366, said seal assembly being retained in position by seal holder 368 which is in turn held in place by threaded retainer 370 fitting into the lower housing 12. A cylinder actuator 372 is affixed to the lower diaphragm retainer 186 and moves therewith to engage annular valve trip 374 which is affixed to the valve 364. The valve has a central passage 376 in communication with the upper diaphragm chamber 182 at its upper end and has a lateral passage 378 at its lower end connecting the passage 376 with the by-pass valve chamber 380 when the valve is opened. By-pass valve chamber 380 is connected by passage 382 to chamber 70 which receives liquid from inlet 24.

The timing unit 400 for controlling the time between water cycles is best illustrated in FIG. 3 and comprises a band 402 graduated in hour markings connected to screw member 404 whose threads engage the threaded portion of cam 406. A second band 408 graduated in minutes is connected to screw 410 whose threaded portion 407 engages a mating threaded portion 409 in screw 404. The end portion of screw 410 has an annular recess 412 which receives the end portion of retainer 414 to hold the timer unit 400 in the upper housing 14. The cam 406 is provided with a ramp 416 engaged by a shaft extension 420 of needle valve 162. Movement of the ramp 416 controls the opening between the needlevalve 162 and seat 164 thereby controlling the flow of liquid into the lower diaphragm chamber 180 thus controlling the time required to open the inlet 24 to discharge 28. It should be noted that screw members 404 and 410 have the prescribed threads required to provide the desired timing as set forth in timing bands 402 and 408.

In order to control the time that the water is left on when discharge is commenced, water flow timer 440 is provided. This timer unit comprises a band 442 graduated in minutes and is connected to rotatable screw 444 which threadedly engages a cam 446 having a ramp 448. The end portion of the screw 444 has an annular recess 450 which receives the end portion of retainer 452.

Ramp 448 engages the shank 454 of needle valve 456 which valve seats against valve seat 458. A helical spring 460 biases the needle valve 456 upwardly against the ramp 448. The bore 462 in valve seat 458 leads to chamber 470, out passage 472 into upper diaphragm chamber 182.

In order to determine exactly what stage the timer unit is inat any given time, a sight glass 500 (FIGS. 4 and 6) is provided on the top horizontal surface of the upper housing 14. The sight glass is provided with a piston 502 which rides back and forth in the sight glass chamber 501 in response to liquid'introduced thereinto. One end of the sight glass is provided with a port 504 connected by passages 506 and 508 to control chamber 510 in which is slidably positioned a piston 512. This piston is mechanically connected to the diaphragm retainer plate 188 and rises and fallswith it. The chamber area 510 above piston 512 as well as passages 508 and 506, together with port 504, is filled with liquid so that as piston 512 rises, liquid will be forced into sight glass chamber 50l'to push the piston 502 ahead of same. The sight glass is graduated to bear a specific relationship to the rise and fall of the diaphragm 178 and the settings on the timer unit 400 as indicated on the scale 503.

Referring to FIG. 1, Schematic, the fluid actuated timing control device constituting a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in combination with a primary fluid system inlet valve seal 26 which seat could be part of any standard antisyphon orshut off globe or angle valve body of any size. With slight modifications the unit can be used for actuating electrical or mechanical devices (FIG. 2 Schematic). For optimum functioning the timer control system includes a pressure regulator 90a, liquid filters 62 and 66, a means for softening water 64, a means for shutting off the inlet water when the weather is wet 120, and a means for automatic relatively fast flow and turn off of water 260, 360, 280 and 300. Also included are the primary actuating devices: spool 148, spool positioning spring 42A, check valves 220 and 190, stem unit 30, diaphragm 178, seal 44 and counter-balance pistons 36 and 84.

Referring to FIG. 2, Electro Mechanical Schematic, the source of actuating fluid enters the housing and filter unit and continues up into the timing system shown in FIG. 1. Choice of incorporation of a pressure regulator 90a, filters and water softeners would be dependent on the contamination and pressure conditions and characteristics of the actuating fluid. The valve member and its piston would be replaced by a mechanical linkage M between the switch or other device to be cycled and the actuating stem.

Referring to FIG. 1, operation of an anti-syphon, globe or angle valve by the fluid timer control unit 10 is generally as follows: With the valve in the shut off position water under pressure of 20 to 150 psi enters through passage and exits through passage 52 into chamber 40 to both provide a counter-balance pressure on the .upper surface of piston 36 which is slightly larger in diameter than the seat area 26 of valve body 22, and provide a means for maintaining the valve in a tight shut off condition. Water then passes into filter 62, water softener 64 and filter 66 before entering the pressure regulator at a maintained reduced pressure, then enters line that both provides by-pass water to the diaphragm chambers 180 and 182-and flow to the pressure port directional control spool 148 where it is passes through metering valve into chamber 180. Upon entering chamber water pressure causes diaphragm 178 to raise. The outer periphery of diaphragm 178 is secured between valve housings 12 and 14; the inner periphery is secured between diaphragm retainer plates 186 and 188. As the diaphragm rises, the stern assembly 30, pushed at shoulder 41, is caused to rise. As stem assembly 30 proceeds to elevate, screw 38 at low extremity of stem assembly 30,

after a timer interval typical in lawn care, proceeds to lift valve assembly 35 off from seat 26. Subsequently, shoulder 43 proceeds to reposition spool 148 to the alternate direction flow position whereupon, through needle valve 162, fluid proceeds to fill chamber 182 and, through check valve proceeds to empty chamber 180. consequently, as the diaphragm 178 through force on shoulder 39 causes stem assembly 30 to descend during the watering-on cycle, after a timeinterval of a few minutes to approximately an hour, valve 35 is forced downward by shoulder 47 whereupon seal 44 subsequently seats on seat 26 thereby shutting off water flow.

Prior to positioning of seal 44 seat 26, shoulder 85 of piston 84 contacts the upper surface of the spool 148 and forces the spool to shift to the down position thereby starting the cycle over again. When spool 148 is deflected toeither the upper or the lower position, it is held in the respective position by compression spring 42A while stem assembly 30 is vertically transposed until respective shoulders 43 or 85 transfer the spool. Piston 84 having the same diameter as stem 34, through flow from central passage 50, enables water to fill chamber 80 thereby enabling counterbalance of stems 32 and 34.

- Spring retained relief valves 260 and 280 are actuated by actuators 272 and 292 which are secured to diaphragm retainer plates 188 and 186, respectively. By-

pass valve assembly 300 automatically permits fast flow turn on of main stream water at the completion of the shut off period.

Relief valves 260 and 280 work in conjunction with by-pass valves 300 and 360 to enable both fast turn on and fast shut off of water and full shift of spol 148. Without the combination of the two valve systems the spool would stop in the null or O ring groove position, and the timing operation would stop. As water enters lower chamber 180, and diaphragm 178 proceeds to rise, actuator 292, affixed to diaphragm retainer 186 proceeds to rise until it contacts trip 294, whereupon upper chamber 182 empties through valve 280. Simultaneously, by-pass valve 300 is opened by its actuator and trip mechanisms. When valve 300 is opened, high pressure, high volume fluid enters lower chamber 180. Subsequently, spool 148 is shifted rapidly to the reverse flow position. Both the by-pass and relief valves are shut off when respective actuator contacts respective cams 289 and 331, whereupon spool 148, needle valve and check valves 190 and 220 operation are resumed for finite timing operations.

Piston 512 in combination with indicator piston 502, sight glass 500 and scale 503 shows hours to go before water is turned on. When cycle start pushbutton 352 is pushed, piston 502 moves in the sight glass tube 501, and, by observing the hours to go on scale 503, required between now" and watering on time can be set, whereupon the pushbutton is prompty released.

Precise operation of the above embodiment can be observed through examination of detailed descriptions in FIGS. 3, and 6. Whereas the previous schematic descriptions, FIGS. 1 and 2 generally described the timer device, a practical and economic configuration represented in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 comprise the embodiment generally preferred with globe, angle or antisyphon valve bodies.

Referring to FIG. 3, operation of the automatic valve timer l0, represented in conjunction with a 3/4 inch diameter anti-syphon valve, as follows: Inasmuch as an anti-syphon valve may have been purchased with a manual shut off valve, or inasmuch as the user may already have an anti-syphon valve installed in his lawn watering system, and he may wish to replace the manual shut off valve with the automatic fluid timer herein described, there are certain standards that the fluid timer device aheres to in order to enable a practical replacement; i.e., the seal in the poppet stem should be interchangeable, the thread in the automatic timer 10 must match the thread in the purchased or installed valve, the distance between the valve seat and the valve body upper thread face must be practically identical. In the event of variations from the make of one like diameter valve to the next, the replacement automatic timer valve must be adjustable or have an adjustment adapter to coordinate the variation without changing the whole upper structure.

Therefore, as a starting point, the seal that shuts off the inlet flow of water can be an easily replaceable off the shelf stock seal for both automatic timer unit as well as the manual device it replaced.

Referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the standard 3/4 inch valve seal 44 is equipped with a central l/4 inch diameter hole. The fastener utilized in the automatic timer, therefore, is a l/4 inch diameter screw 46 having a passage 50 for transmission of water into the timing system. By tracing the water flow up through the system it can readily be observed how the automatic timer device functions.

Water at pressure of from 20 to I50 psi flows up through valve assembly 35, where it flows upwards through the entire stem arrangement 32 and 34, and through piston 84 where the pressure subsequently enables the stem unit 30 to float" in a balanced pressure condition. At the lower end of the stem a lateral passage 52 provides the means for supplying fluid in chamber 40 to overbalance the piston 36 and enable valve 44 to be retained tightly compressed to the seat 26 except when the valve assembly 35 is elevated by the stem lift screw 38.

The water then flows through filter (coarse) 62 (FIG. 5), water softener 64, through micropore filter 66 and up through passage 76 to regulator valve assembly which is retained closed by a slight pressure of the regulator spring 96 until pressure drops in line 110 wherein compression spring 100 is enabled to extend thereby forcing valve 94 down and permitting additional high pressure fluid through the outlet line 110, and through gap 91 under the area under diaphragm 106. Consequently, the added pressure to diaphragm 106 compresses spring 100 and causes it to move away from the valve which is then closed by the combination force of spring 96 pressure and hydrostatic pressure in the inlet line 76. v

Water flowing into line 110 passes through valve seat 112 and into valve area chamber 118 (providing inlet valve 114 is open). Pressure fluid then flows into passage 134 where it enters the pressure port 136 of spool 148.

Referring to FIG. 3, right side of the centerline at the spool 148, it can be perceived that water entering the pressure port 236 flows up and around through the gap between spool 148 and the housing 14 where it enters passage 150, left of centerline passes through needle valve 162 and seat 164 into passage 172 and thence into chamber whereupon diaphragm 178 proceeds to move upwards at a rate directly proportional to the metered fluid flow rate.

As chamber 180 fills from valve'162, chamber 182 empties through check valve 220 whereupon water flows up through passage 232. During the up cycle, water flows out spool chamber 240, through slot 231 in spool 148 and up through the gap 242 between stem 34 and the wall of spool 148, thence into chamber 244 where it is disposed of through outlet drain port 246. Orifice plug assembly 250 (FIG. 5) incorporates a small hole through the center. Said hole provides a back pressure which prevents fluid from draining out the spool drain system as fast as or faster than it drains out relief valve 280 (drain port 246 or 276). Without the restriction, spool 148 would stop at the null position and the unit would be in a hydraulic lock up".

In the present configuration the flow rate is only a few cc per day whereupon the waste of water drained out is negligible. In other instances where the configuration could be an industrial fluid timer having a rapid cycling rate, the fluid used could be incorporated into a closed loop circuit with a reservoir, pump and accumulator arrangement.

As diaphragm 178 raises slowly (FIG. 3 left of centerline view), diaphragm retainer 186 upper surface eventually engages shoulder 41 of stem 34 and proceeds to elevate stem assembly 30, and piston 84 against drag of stem and piston 0 rings, which restraining pressures are insignificant, however, because of the relatively large area of the diaphragm 178 which, in the present case is forced upwards by pressures much greater than the resistance.

After contacting shoulder 41 (FIG. 3) diaphragm 178 and stem 30 move upas a unit. Timing isdeveloped by stages, and the precise distance of travel between stages to enable full flow of the watering system, depends'primarily on the distance required between valve seal 44 and the seat 26. In the configuration herein used (the 3/4 inch diameter valve), the valve body 22 required opening is approximately 5/32 inches. To provide a safety factor against'pressure drop a 7/32 inch opening is incorporated into'this specific timer mechanism design herein described. Therefore, at a level of 0.07 inches before the diaphragm contacts the ceiling of chamber 182, actuator 292, (FIG. 5) which is secured to diaphragm retainer 188 engages valve trip 294 and causes valve 284 to be pushed off its seat 286 (note that valve assembly 280 is identical to 260). When relief valve 284 opens, water flows rapidly out of chamber 182, and diaphragm retainer 188 (FIG. 3), which has engaged stem shoulder 41, causes stem 34 and its lower appendage fastener 38 to force valve 35 and seal 44 off valve body seat 26. As water rushes into valve body cavity 37 and outlet 28 therby turning on the sprinkler system, the hydrostatic pressure below and above piston 36 is equalized until the force of the inrush water causes a higher force below seal 44 than above piston 36 and causes the valve to raise to its max-- imum height thereby enabling full flow through the valve body.

Timer control 400 provides the means for timing the watering operations. Whereas control screw 404 enables coarse thread adjustment between 24 hours and 1 hour, fine thread control screw 410 provides adjustment for zero to 60 minutes. Rotation of controls causes screw 404 ramp 416 to change the opening of needle valve 162. Referring to FIG. 5, left side, a concurrent event that takes place as the spool 148 is shifted upward is that as the spool 148 starts to move, by-pass valve 300 is raised by actuator 334 when it contacts trip 336 and is pushed off seat 304, thereby enabling high pressure water to enter chamber 180 and rapidly load chamber 180 therby causing stem shoulder 43 (FIG. 3) to push spool 148 past the O ring null groove positions. When valve 302 (FIG. 5) is raised off seat 304, high pressure water entering tube 322 from passage 340, passed up through tube 322 into passage 318 whereupon water passes through chamber 320 into cylinder gap 319 and enters port 326 where it passes down through gap 324 between tube 322 and valve 302 whereupon lower chamber 180 is rapidly filled. Following substantial opening of poppet'seal 44, stem shoulder 42 contacts the bottom surface of spool 148 and forces the spool upward against the restraining pressure of spool spring 42A and the drag of spool seals 144. The force of the diaphragm 178 is much greater than spool O ring drag and spring 42A counter force and therefore the upward movement continues.

The moment spool 148 0 rings 144 pass above the groove (null) position and seal against their respective lands 142 (FIG. 3) water pressure is diverted from the passages and needle valve that lead to chamber 180 and lead, instead, to the passage 234, needle valve 456 through valve seat 458 and into chamber 188 whereupon diaphragm 178 proceeds to move in the downward direction.

Before spool 148 is moved to its peak position (FIG. 5 right of centerline) actuator 292 contacts cam 289 and, as actuator 292 is composed of resilient spring quality material such as delrin, plastic or phosphor bronze, the actuator is expanded outwardly until trip 294 is released whereupon spring 282 causes valve 284 to rapidly return to its seat. Thus chamber 182 is pressurized. Chamber 180 through passage 172, (FIG. 3) is drained through check valve 190, passages 208 and 150, into chamber 244 and to drain 248 (FIG. 5).

with the spool 148 shifted to the up position (FIG. 3 right side of centerline) and fluid pressure diverted to chamber 182, diaphragm 178 proceeds to slowly move downward at a rate provided by the metering of fluid past the needle of valve 456. Spool 148 is held in the up (or down) position by snap through compression spring 42A.

Rate of diaphragm downward movement is controlled by the minutes to water control assembly 440 (FIG. 3 upper right of centerline) which, by turning on screw 444 causes ramp 448 to advance or retract thereby changing the vertical position of needle valve 456, which is normally retained in the upward position by compression spring 460.

Referring to FIG. 5, cycle start button 352 and time indicator piston 502 (also FIG. 6) in conjunction with the direction panel (FIG. 4) it can be seen how the desired time for water to go on may be obtained. The user, while observing the position of piston 502 in sight glass 500, pushes cycle start button 352 thereby permitting water to be diverted indirectly through passage 340 (FIG. 5) lower left side, into chamber 180 thereby causing diaphragm 178 to be forced upwards until,

' through the intermediate action of displacement piston 512 (FIG. 6), O ring 505 corresponds with the hours to go watering numerals on scale 503 (FIG. 4). Obviously, the hours off period can be increased from two days to several by increasing the volume capacity of chambers 180 and 182 or by obtaining finer metering through the hours control metering valve.

One of the primary objectives of the lawn watering version of the valve described herein is to provide a means that will prevent the sprinkler system from turning on during wet weather. In FIG. 5 top right segment, it can be seen how this objective'may be accomplished. Spring 116 normally maintains valve 114 in the open position. When rainy weather arrives, moisture sensor 126 is subjected to wet atmospheric air. conditions through air vents in retainer 130, whereupon moisture sensor 126 expands between hood 132 and support 124 thereby causing support 124, having a finite adjustment screw 128, to force lever 130 downward against valve 114 thereby causing the valve to shut off inlet flow through seat 112. When dry weather returns, sensor unit 126 contracts thereby permitting spring 116 to raise inlet valve 114 off seat 112. Hood 132 provides a safety covering against inadvertent watering by persons using a hose. Following the change in timing caused by the wet weather the preceise time for resumed watering to go on can be provided by pushing cycle start button 352 and observing the relationship between the movement of piston 502 (FIG. 4) and the corresponding hours to go indicated on scale 503.

I claim:

1. An automatic hydraulically-operated fluid timing device for both opening a pressurized fluid line after a preset off period and closing the fluid system line after a preset on period, said device comprising:

valve means for opening and closing the fluid line,

a hydraulically-operated diaphragm assembly connected to the valve means to open and close same, said assembly comprising a chamber, a diaphragm extending across the chamber to form an upper and a lower chamber,

control means operatively connected to the hydraulically-operated diaphragm assembly to control flow of fluid to said assembly, said control means comprising a stem having the valve measns connected to the lower end thereof, said diaphragm being connected to the stem intermediate the stem ends, a spool mounted on the stem adjacent the upper end thereof, said spool being carried in a spool chamber and directing fluid flow to either the upper or lower diaphragm chambers from said chamber,

a time-ofi' metering valve fluidly connected between the spool chamber and the lower diaphragm chamber to control quantity of fluid flow to said lower chamber and thus the time that the valve means is closed, and a check valve connected to the upper diaphragm chamber to allow discharge of fluid as diaphragm moves upward,

a time-on metering valve fluidly connected between the spool chamber and the upper diaphragm chamber to control quantity of fluid flow to the upper diaphragm chamber and thus the time that the valve means is open and a check valve connected to the lower diaphragm chamber to allow discharge therefrom as the diaphragm moves downardly,

means for rapidly introducing fluid into the lower chamber comprising a by-pass arrangement leading from the fluid line to the lower chamber and a relief valve in the upper chamber for allowing fluid to discharge from the upper chamber as fluid enters the lower chamber, and passage means in the device for delivering control fluid from the fluid system to the control means. 2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 and wherein means are provided for rapidly introducing fluid into the upper chamber, said means comprising a by-pass arrangement leading from the fluid line to the upper chamber and further wherein a relief valve is provided in the lower chamber to allow fluid to discharge from the lower chamber as fluid enters the upper chamber.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 and wherein the by-pass arrangement leading from the fluid line to the upper chamber includes means for by-passing the time-on metering valve and the spool chamber.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the by-pass arrangement leading from the fluid line to the lever chamber includes means for by-passing the time-off metering valve and the spool chamber.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 1 and wherein gauge means are connected to the diaphragm to indicate the time remaining until valve change.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 1 and wherein snap spring means are connected to the spool to assure retention of the valve means in each extreme position. 

1. An automatic hydraulically-operated fluid timing device for both opening a pressurized fluid line after a preset off period and closing the fluid system line after a preset on period, said device comprising: valve means for opening and closing the fluid line, a hydraulically-operated diaphragm assembly connected to the valve means to open and close same, said assembly comprising a chamber, a diaphragm extending across the chamber to form an upper and a lower chamber, control means operatively connected to the hydraulicallyoperated diaphragm assembly to control flow of fluid to said assembly, said control means comprising a stem having the valve measns connected to the lower end thereof, said diaphragm being connected to the stem intermediate the stem ends, a spool mounted on the stem adjacent the upper end thereof, said spool being carried in a spool chamber and directing fluid flow to either the upper or lower diaphragm chambers from said chamber, a time-off metering valve fluidly connected between the spool chamber and the lower diaphragm chamber to control quantity of fluid flow to said lower chamber and thus the time that the valve means is closed, and a check valve connected to the upper diaphragm chamber to allow discharge of fluid as diaphragm moves upward, a time-on metering valve fluidly connected between the spool chamber and the upper diaphragm chamber to control quantity of fluid flow to the upper diaphragm chamber and thus the time that the valve means is open and a check valve connected to the lower diaphragm chamber to allow discharge therefrom as the diaphragm moves downardly, means for rapidly introducing fluid into the lower chamber comprising a by-pass arrangement leading from the fluid line to the lower chamber and a relief valve in the upper chamber for allowing fluid to discharge from the upper chamber as fluid enters the lower chamber, and passage means in the device for delivering control fluid from the fluid system to the control means.
 2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 and wherein means are provided for rapidly introducing fluid into the upper chamber, said means comprising a by-pass arrangement leading from the fluid line to the upper chamber and further wherein a relief valve is provided in the lower chamber to allow fluid to discharge from the lower chamber as fluid enters the upper chamber.
 3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 and wherein the by-pass arrangement leading from the fluid line to the upper chamber includes means for by-passing the time-on metering valve and the spool chamber.
 4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the by-pass arrangement leading from the fluid line to the lever chamber includes means for by-passing the time-off metering valve and the spool chamber.
 5. The invention as set forth in claim 1 and wherein gauge means are connected to the diaphragm to indicate the time remaining until valve change.
 6. The invention as set forth in claim 1 and wherein snap spring means are connected to the spool to assure retention of the valve means in each extreme position.
 7. The invention as set forth in claim 1 and wherein a moisture sensing unit is connected to the passage means in the device, said moisture sensing unit being responsive to ambient moisture conditions to prevent operation of the timing device when there is no need for water.
 8. The invention as set forth in claim 7 and wherein manually operable inlet valve means are provided between the passage means in the device and the lower diaphragm chamber whereby the manual opening of the inlet valve means allows fluid to flow into the lower diaphragm chamber. 